Community
October 5, 2015
THE ASIAN REPORTER n Page 11
Marshallese canoe build symbolizes hope for island cultures
By Maileen Hamto
The Asian Reporter
ommunity volunteers, led by a
master canoe-builder, are carving a
traditional Marshallese outrigger
canoe out of Redwood Sequoia logs this
fall. The project is taking place in an area
known as Oak Savanna at Portland State
University (PSU).
Living Islands, a nonprofit whose
mission is to bring cross-cultural under-
standing and education of and for the
Marshallese people, is organizing the rare
opportunity for Portlanders to watch the
creation of a Marshallese outrigger canoe.
“This is possibly only the second time in
history that a Marshallese canoe has been
built in the United States,” said Kianna
Angelo, founder and executive director of
Living Islands. “We’re excited to bring the
unparalleled craftsmanship of the
Marshallese people to Portland for the
first time.”
Outrigger canoes were once used widely
among cultures and tribes along the
Pacific Ocean. The Marshall Islands,
located 2,500 miles southwest of Hawaii,
consist of more than 70 atolls —
ring-shaped coral reefs — that make up
about 70 square miles of land.
People of the Marshall Islands
cultivated an outrigger canoe culture high-
lighting their keen knowledge of navi-
gating wave and ocean swell patterns.
According to written accounts by early
European
explorers,
Marshallese
outrigger canoes were among the fastest,
sleekest, and best designed anywhere in
the Pacific Ocean.
At the project’s opening ceremony last
month at Portland State, Marshallese
community leaders spoke about the
cultural significance of the canoe-building
project as a symbol for the future of the
islands.
“People of the Marshall Islands are
world-renowned for our navigational skills
and love of the ocean. Unfortunately, the
very ocean that we love has become our
biggest threat. Global warming is real; we
face this reality everyday as we see our
islands slowly disappear,” said Lani
Kramer, a representative of the Bikini
Islands council-in-exile.
The canoe build in Oregon is led by Tiem
Clement, a master builder of traditional
canoes from the Marshall Islands.
Clement is one of only a few traditional
Marshallese outrigger canoe master
builders. Inter-atoll navigation using
outrigger canoes is a lost tradition that the
Marshallese are now trying to regain.
Because of his renowned talent and skill,
Clement has travelled across the globe to
share the Marshallese culture and
canoe-building tradition in countries such
as New Zealand, South Korea, the
Republic of China, the Republic of Palau,
and Australia.
“The outrigger canoe is much more than
just a boat: it represents a culture that is in
Summer Run
danger of extinction and the people who
are struggling to survive in our modern
world. We want to use the project as a way
to educate and inform Oregonians about
the Marshall Islands and other southern
Pacific communities,” said Angelo, a
Marshallese adoptee who hails from Lake
Oswego. She is familiar with the Pacific
Islands and the critical need for cross-
cultural partnerships.
Angelo, who established Living Islands
to support her vision for thriving Pacific
Island communities, also serves as a vice
president for the Compact of Free
Association (COFA) Alliance National
Network, a political organization that
advocates for Pacific Islanders in Oregon.
Working with elected officials and other
community advocacy groups, the COFA
Alliance recently passed legislation that
provides access to healthcare coverage for
COFA islanders living in Oregon.
The acknowledgement of Marshallese
history and the islands’ environmental
demise has grounded the ongoing
conversation about preserving traditional
ways of life for the Marshallese. During
the post-World-War-II nuclear arms race,
the United States conducted multiple
nuclear tests on Enewetak and Bikini
Atolls. The 1954 Bravo test was recorded
as 1,000 times more powerful than the
atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. As a
result of military activity on the islands,
people from the atolls were displaced and
relocated. Currently, there are about
30,000 people of Marshallese descent
living in the United States.
Oregon has the fifth largest Marshallese
community in the United States, with
3,000 Marshallese calling Oregon home.
“Native migration and imperialistic
western influences have decimated
traditional Marshallese culture and
threatens the historic way of life that has
endured for centuries,” Angelo said during
her remarks at the opening ceremony. “A
proud and noble population that once
ruled the seas and sustained itself is
rapidly beginning to reduce to scraping out
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AR Photo/Maileen Hamto
Photo courtesy of Living Islands
C
CRAFTSMANSHIP & CULTURE. Community volunteers, led by master canoe-builder Tiem Clement
(left photo), are carving a traditional Marshallese outrigger canoe out of Redwood Sequoia logs this fall at Port-
land State University (PSU). Public viewing of the project is available at PSU’s Oak Savanna, located at S.W.
Montgomery Street and 11th Avenue, through November 24. Pictured in the right photo are dancers performing
at the September opening ceremony.
an existence from a few cans of tuna doled ocean. The canoe is one way that connected
out by western military interests that all of us together. As Pacific Islanders, we
see the ocean as our gateway to each
continue to dominate the region.”
“As traditional cultures disappear, other,” said Luka, who is Palauan
many young Marshallese people have American. “Even though we’re from
forgotten how to read the ocean waves,” different countries, different cultures, we
are still very tied together. What’s going on
she added.
State representative Brian Clemm, a in the Marshall Islands affects and
board member for Living Islands, is touches all of us.”
The building of the canoe will continue
delighted not only for the opportunity to
represent his constituents in Salem, but through November 24. To watch the
also the chance to garner more support and progression of the project in person, stop
recognition for the plight of the by PSU’s Oak Savanna natural area,
Marshallese here in the United States and which is located at S.W. Montgomery
at the atolls. “Oregon and the Marshallese Street and 11th Avenue. In addition, two
have a very important relationship. Living events are planned at NASCC to further
Islands is helping more Oregonians engage the community in the canoe project
understand and further improve this and with the Marshallese community in
Oregon. On Tuesday, October 20 at noon,
relationship,” he said.
The collaboration with PSU speaks to Living Islands invites the public to a free
the strengthening ties among Pacific workshop about the canoe build and
Island communities in Oregon. Virginia Marshall Islands cultures, communities,
Luka, advisor of Student Activities and and crafts. Another gathering scheduled
Leadership Programs at Portland State, for noon on Wednesday, November 18 will
played a crucial role in connecting Living highlight diverse canoe cultures in the
Islands with PSU resources, particularly Pacific Islands and the Pacific Northwest.
To learn more about the project and
the Native American Student and
Community Center (NASCC) and the upcoming events, or to volunteer, call (360)
539-5348 or visit <www.livingislands.
Sustainability Leadership Center.
“As Micronesians, we are united by the org>.